Machine for spraying the edges of books



Feb. 20, 1951 H. s. CAHEN 2,542,623

MACHINE FOR SPRAYING THE EDGES OF BOOKS Filed March 27, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 9% Z mmvrozz.

HER MAN 5. CA HEN ATTORNEYS Feb. 20, 1951 H. s. CAHEN momma FOR SPRAYING was EDGES OF BOOKS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 27, 1946 ATTORNEYS Feb. 20, 1951 H. s. CAHEN 2,542,523

MACHINE FOR SPRAYING THE EDGES OF BOOKS Filed March 27. 1946 '4 Sheets-Sheet :s

mmvroa. HERMAN S. CAHEN ATTO R N E Y5 H. S. CAHEN Feb. 20, 1951 2,542,623

7 MACHINE FOR SPRAYING THE EDGES OF BOOKS '4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 27, 1946 :f Another object is to which the operation of the spraying device is controlled by the movement of the books towards Patented Feb. 20, 1951 MACHINE FOR SPRAYING THE EDGES OF BOOKS Herman S. Cahcn. University Heights, Ohio, assignor to The Commercial Bookbinding Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application March 27, 1946, Serial No. 657,449

This invention relates to an improved machine for applying color to the edges of books and the like at an increasedrate of speed and also with an improvement in the quality of the work.

Heretofore ithas been the custom to apply color to the edge or edges of books manually by means of a sponge, which of course has proved to be very slow and laborious and hence a compartively costly method. Also, there has been used a spraying device in which the valve for each spraying operation is operated by hand; and obviously this method too has its limitations.

9 Claims. (01. 91-45) Therefore, it is the object of the present invention to devise a machine which comprises a spraying device and means for feeding the books therematically. 5

devise such a machine in thespraying device.

A more specific object is to devise such a machine in which the initiation and duration of the opertaion of the spraying device is governed by the movement of the books toposition for the sp-raying operation.

- g Another object is to devise such, a machine in "which all edges or only one edge of the books vice may be discontinued either manually or automatically from the delivery end of the machine in the'event' of an undue accumulation of books at the delivery end of the machine.

Another object is to provide a book spraying machine in which the spraying means may be rendered inactive either manually or automatically in case the means for feeding the books is discontinued in either manner above mentioned. Another object is to devise such a machine with a feed-way for the books as they are moved to the spraying device, and guidemeans therefor after the spraying operation. j

Another object is to provide such a machine with a safety means within easy reach of the attendant whereby the operation of the bookfeeding means may be temporarily discontinued.

2 Another object is to provide such a machine with means for holding the books in upright position upon edge as they are placed in the machine, such means being adaptable for books of different sizes.

Other objects will appear from the following description and claims when considered togethe with the accompanying drawings. r Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my present im proved machine;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof; Fig. 3 is a detail view of the spray means; Fig. 4 is a sectionalview corresponding to line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4a illustrates adjustable entrance and exit openings in the hood;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the book-feeding means and the automatic control means associated therewith;

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the bleeder valve which forms a part of the'autoinatic control means for the spraying device; x

Fig.7 is a detail view of the form of means her employed for discontinuing the spray means either manually or automatically;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the books in one position with respect to the two switches located in the path of the books;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view illustrating the books in a more advanced position with respect to the two switches;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view illustrating the attachment for use in the spraying of only one edge of the books; and

Fig. 11 illustrates the angle of inclination of the spray gun when only one edge of the books .is being sprayed. 1 I

It is to be understood that the present form "of disclosure is merely for the purpose of illustration and that there might be various mod fications thereof without departing from the spirit of my invention as herein set forth and claimed.

Briefly stated, my invention comprises a spraying device and a reciprocating motive means for feeding the books, supplied by an attendant, to and through the spraying device upon their ed es and in close side-by-side engagement with each other so as to expose .only theedges thereof for *the spraying of one edge or all three edgesrtbmounted the control valve upon axis -.determining the air flow to either the forward or vanced by the motive means towards position for the spraying action.

For the purpose of my present invention, I may adopt a spraying device that is already well known, as for instance the De Vilbiss spraying equipment. This old spraying device, however, is so arranged and co-ordinated with respect to other parts of my machine as to produce a unitary result which I believe to be new with me. At the same time my invention is not restricted to the use of any particular form of spraying device per se.

Also, for the purpose of moving the books to the spraying device, I may employ an old form of motive means, namely the hydraulic reciprocating motor which may be here recognized as a Hanna cylinder and which I have indicated in a general way by reference numeral I Without showing complete details except for the air line 2 thereto and the plunger rod 3 which is 're'eiprocated thereby. Suffice to say, air motor 1 has its valve casing Ia in which is rockably ID for rear side of the plunger in the air motor I in :order to reverse the direction of movement of the plunger, as will be readily understood. The

air valve is turned about its pivot Ib by means -of arm vIc which is connected to the upwardly extending valve lever and has its lower end connected to the horizontally movable rod Id. Rod Id has stops Ia and I f thereon for engagement :by" arm 5b .on the pusher 5 so as to effect turning of the air motor valve and thereby effect reversal 'Iof the direction of movement of the plunger rod 3. Detent arm lg is also connected to the :lever of the air motor valve so as to respond to l the rocking movement thereof and this arm has two notches Ih for engagement with the edge of a plate Ilc against which it is releasably held by spring ii which is anchored to the front of the frame of the machine. The effect of this detent 'means is to hold the air valve in set position until its position is changed. Movement of rod Id to the left, as viewed in Fig. 5 for instance,

-will serve to stop air motor I.

Air motor I is mounted upon the frame 6 and at one end of a feed-way 4 for the books and has a pusher 5 on the end of plunger rod 3.

The books will be placed by an attendant upon the laterally inclined feed-way 4 at a point just in front of the pusher 5 so as to be moved thereby along the feed-way 4 which is supported by the frame E. Feed-way 4 has an upstanding flange 4 along the lower side of the same so as to facilitate the placing, supporting and directing of the books upon and along the feed-way to I with suitable entrance and exit for the books for entering and leaving the same. By means of adjustable plates 1?), the entrance and exit openings may be made larger or smaller according to the sizes of the books so as to prevent escape of excess spray and fumes through these openings. .Als'o, this booth I has an exhaustpipe 8 and a fan 9 for removing any fumes and-excess spray therefrom to any suitable point of discharge.

The bottom of the booth I is in the form of a screen I0 to permit passage therethrough of the .ex ess s r y ng iqu d t th ekhaust P p 8 4 which is connected to the lower part of the housing or booth I.

The arrangement shown in Fig. 4 is intended for spraying all three edges of the books. In this case, the books are placed upon the feedway 4 with their backs down, and the feed-way 4 includes the auxiliary rail 4a which has a beveled inner surface portion 41) for engagement by the one corner of the books after they have passed through the spraying operation. The enga ement of the beveled surface portion 471 serves to maintain the books in proper alignment. However, to the extent of the spraying operation, the feed-way may consist only of narrow tracks for supporting engagement with only the backs of the books, and the rail 4a may be omitted throughout this region of the feed-way,

the close side-by-side engagement of the succession of books being suihcient to maintain the same in proper alignment for the spraying operation. Rail 4a may-be made removable by means of screws, as in Figs. 8-1.0.

If it should be desired to spray only one edge of the books, the rail Ad will not be employed but another rail 40 will be mounted in the manner indicated in Fig. 10 of the present drawings. Rail 4c will-be of the .same length as rail 4a. When spraying only one edge, the books will be placed upon the feed-Way with their backs up and, after they have passed through the spraying operation, the one corner of the books will engage the beveled surface of the rail 40 in order to maintain the books in proper alignment, this beveled surface portion being indicated by refer- .ence numeral 4d. Any suitable means may be employed for ,removably mounting the rail 40, as for instance the upright rods 4e which are adapted to be engaged by apertures in the rail Acand suitable means, as for. instance set screws, for setting the rail 40 at proper elevation for any given size of books. Rail 40 may also be laterally adjustable by mounting the rods 4e upon a strip to which has bolt and slot adjustment upon the frame as indicated by reference numeral 4]. The means for mounting the rail 4c is so arranged that, when it is employed, the

are colored upononly one edge or all three edges.

Another well-known fact is that books with only one colored edge have square corners, the idea being to have a clean line of demarcation be tween 2, colored and an uncolored edge of a book.

It is to be understood that the proper spray guns will be turned on according to whether one or three edges of the books are to be sprayed. Also, when only one edge is sprayed, as for instance in Fig. 11, the spray gun for that edge of the book will be raised to a more elevated position and directed at a sharper angle so as to avoid the danger of any spray reaching the front edge of the book.

The spraying device will now be described. The spraying liquid is in the tank I0 which has connection II with the main air line I2. The tank It! has pipe or tube connection I3 with the liquid manifold or distributor head I4 which, in turn, has tube or pipe connections I5, I6, IT to the three spray guns or nozzles I8, I9, 20, respectively, this manifold having the individual valves 2i, 22, 23 for the several tubes and also "pusher 5. opening a will pass over the lever 48 which consequently will not be actuated. However, any

with respect to the books for properly applying the spraying liquid to the edges thereof.

From the main air pressure line 12 the tube extends to the manifold 25- which has valves 21, 28, 29 for the air tubes 33, 31,32 to the one side of the three individual spray nozzles, respectively, and also the master valve 33 for turning on or 01f entirely the air to this manifold. Likewise, the tube 35 extends fromthe main air pressure line l2 to the manifold 35 which has valves 36, 3?, 38 for the air tubes 39, 46, All to the other 'side of the three individual spray nozzles, respectively, and also master valve 42 for turning on or off this manifold entirely. Thus, by means of the valves, this system may be set for use of any one or all of the spray guns; and, in this way, the spray may be applied to only one or to all three edges of the books. The air tubes from the main air pressure line [2 to the manfolds 26 and 35 are provided with the master connection 43 through which there is effected automatic control of the air lines to the manifolds 26 and 35, as will be explained I will now describe my means for effecting the movement of books and for automatically controlling, the operation of the air line and thereby the spray device, according to the movement of books towards the same. The electric switch lever 44 is pivotally mounted in the feed-way 4 so as to extend upwardly into the path of the books as they are moved along the same by the pusher 5. The switch lever a l may be made sufficiently yieldable so as to be turned down by the books as they are moved over the same and thus not interfere with the movement of the books. The pusher 5 has an opening 511 in its bottom to provide clearance for the switch lever 34 when there are no books to be moved by the That is to say, without any books, the

books that are placed in front of the pusher 5 will serve to close the opening 5a and will cause A actuation of the switch lever 4 as the books are moved over the same by the pusher 5.

The switch, controlled by the switch lever 44, is in the electric circuit of the solenoid 45 with which is associated the core 46 connected to the one end of the initial book-holder 4'1. The other end of the book-holder 4? is pivoted in the underside of the feed-way 4 so that it may occupy position below the same and permit its enlarged end portion dict to extend above the feed-way d except when lowered by the solenoid 45. The enlarged end portion lla is inclined upwardly from the end thereof and terminates in an abrupt shoulder at right angle to the path of the books. The holder i? is normally forced to raised position by the spring 3501 acting through suitable lever connections, as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing. The inclined end of the book-holder i! will facilitate passage of the books thereover as it is lowered out of the way, and its abrupt right angle shoulder may engage behind the last book upon the feed-way 4. That is, when the machine A1, I may employ also the book-holder 48a in the form of an enlarged portion upon the arm 48 which is pivotally mounted at its rear end upon a vertical axis, the purpose of this additional provision being to engage the vertical edge of the last book in case the books are too large to be held upright by holder 4? alone. The holder means i8t8a may be mounted and operated in the same manner as the means 47- i1a and by duplicate means including solenoid 45 included The pusher 5 is cutaway for the holder means 481; also. If so desired, the enlarged portion 48a may be made slidably adjustable vertically upon the forward end of arm 48 which would be suitably extended vertically so a to permit such adjustable mounting of portion 48a; in which case, portion 48a may be releasably'secured in set position by a set screw and the operating means therefor may be connected to this forward part of the arm 58.

An optional book-holder, which is adapted to engage the top edge of the books, may be ad jusably mounted in the frame above the path of the books, although this provision will not be needed when book-holder means 48 i8a is employed. Horizontal bar 59 is supported by the screw-threaded rods 59a for vertical adjustment in the frame above, and has the holder member 5% pivotally mounted upon the end thereof so as to permit the books to pass thereunder and to swing by, gravity to holding position, this member 5% being so formed and so mounted as to operate as a latch which will hold the books against falling backward At the delivery end of the machine, there may I be provided an automatic means for signalling the attendant at the other end of the machine or for automatically stopping the machine, as Will be explained. In case-the books should not be removed by the attendant from the delivery end of themachine, the books will engage and actuate the spring electric switch 50 at thedelivery end of the feed-way 4, this switch being included in an electric circuit for automatically actuating an electric light 53a or ringing a bell at the front end of the machine as a signal to the attendant there.

.If this signal should go unheeded and if the books should be permitted to continue in their travel, than they will engage a switch lever 5! upon the feed-way t so as to close the electric circuit through the electro-magnet 52 and thereby release the spring detent 53 which is pivotally mounted and which has a pin engaged in a recess in the disk 5% provided upon the stem of valve. 54. Valve 5% is normally forced by coil spring 5419 to close air tube 55 to bleeder valve unit Bil. At the same time. the electric circuit is closed through electro-magnet 55 which will move pivoted lever 57 so as to move rod Id to the left, as viewed in Fig. 5, and turn valve arm to which is adapted to turn the air motor valve about its pivot ib, as above explained, so as to stop air motor I. The lower end of arm 57! is normally moved away from its electro-magnet by spring 57a. Thus the closing of switch 51,

either by hand or automatically, will stop pusher I 5; and will stop also the spray-device by renderin ineffective the air line thereof.

The air line 55 for the spray device may be rendered inactive at any time desired by means of the hand-operated valve;55a., This valve will .nccupy: open position during operation of the spraying machine.

Having described the movement of the books along the feed-way therefor, I now come tov the automatic control of the spraying device thereby. When the book-holder Al is lowered by means of the solenoid 35, as above explained, it will actuate the valve in the blesder valve unit 58 which is located in the air line 55 of the spray device, as will be explained. The holder 41 will engage the spring bell-crank lever 5% which, in turn, depresses the stem 62 of the spring valve 63 which normally closes the outlet for the air tube 55 through the casing 65 into which the tube enters and which has an air outlet $6. The opening of this end of the air line in this manner will cause actuation of the spray device which will thus be operated intermittently according to the opening of this valve by the depression of the holder 4?. the bleeder valve 53, which is normally closed so as not to permit passage of air through the master connection to either of the manifolds and 35, will be automatically opened upon depression of the holder 4'1 in the manner above explained; and such active condition of the master connection 53 will continue so long as the book-holder 4'1 occupies lowered position. That -is-to say, the air lines to the manifolds 26 and will be maintained open and effective for the spraying operation so long as a succession of books continues to be moved over the upwardly projecting end of the initial book-holder 47 by the pusher 5 of the air motor I. But, as soon as there are no books to maintain the bookholder 41 depressed, it will automatically return to raised position and the spraying action .will be discontinued because of the stoppage of the air flow through the master connection 43 to the spray nozzles.

As will be understood from the above, the spraying action in the prcsent machine will be effected intermittently according to the passage of books over the switch A l. However, the spray of the liquid is so fine and uniform that there will be obtained a uniform coating of the coloring liquid upon the edge or edges of the books, much more so than has been possible with the usual practice heretofore. Thus, with my present machine I am enabled to improve production with respect to both quantity and quality.

While, as above stated, I may employ an old spraying means, yet I have provided a plurality of spray guns which are all operated from the same source of supply and also by the same automatic control means; and I have provided an arrangement of the plural spray guns so that one or all of the edges of the books may be sprayed as may be desired. Also, I have devised a set of manifolds by means of which the spray nozzles may be turned on or off either individually or collectively; and there is thus afiorded also a convenient means for changing the spray nozzles for different colors of spraying liqu'd. So far as I am aware, the provision of such a manifold in this combination is new with me and this feature is to be understood as constituting one of the objects of my present invention. The master connection 43, referred to above, is an 'air valve which has been heretofore included in the De Vilbiss spraying equipment, known as Type VA-515, and dozs not form a part of my present novelty in and of itself but only as part of my entire combination as above described.

As a safeguard against the hand of the at- This arrangement is such that tendant being caught and held between the books as they are being forced along the feed-way 4 by the .air motor I, I have provided the over-hanging safety lever arm which is indicated by reference numeral 6'! and which is pivotally mounted in the machine frame above the feed-way 4 and within easy reach of the attendant. This safety lever 81 is swingingly mounted in the frame 68 and has the depending arm 69 with a clevis on its lower end to engage a stop 69a on the rod Id and to move the same towards the left, as viewed in Fig. 5 of the present drawing, and thereby turn the valve of the air motor I to position for stopping the same. This safety device is so constructed and arranged that it will respond to a quick striking action by the operator and will stop the operation of the air motor I momentarily or so long as required for relief. Release of the spring lever arm 61 will be followed immediately by resumption of the operation of the air motor I.

Thus all of the above-mentioned objects are attained in an efiicient manner and the several practical advantages which flow from the use of my present improved machine will readily suggest themselves to those who are familiar with the art to which thisinvention relates.

What I claim is:

1. In a spraying machine, the combination of a spraying device, means for positioning books or the like on edge successively in operative position with respect to said spraying device, releasable means for holding the books or the like in such position for spraying, and means, located in the path of the articles to be sprayed, so as to be actuated thereby, for controlling the operation of said holding means and of said spraying device.

2. In a spraying machine, the combination of a spraying device, reciprocatory means for advancing articles successively and progressively through said spraying device so as to subject the same to the spraying operation, means whereby the operation of said spraying device is initiated and continued by the operation of said articleadvancing means, and means actuated by the accumulation of sprayed articles beyond said spraying device for automatically discontinuing the operation of said article-advancing means.

3. In a book-spraying machine, the combination of spraying means, reciprocatory means for advancing the books successively and progressively in close side-by-side engagement with each other through said spraying means so as to subject the edge of the same to the spraying operation, an open track for supporting the books upon edge as they are advanced through said spraying means, means for maintaining the books in proper alignment as they are advanced to and from said spraying means, and means actuated by the movement of the books to operative position for controlling the operation of said spraying means. i

4. In a book-spraying machine, the combination of a spraying means, reciprocatory motive means for advancing the books in close side-byside engagement with each other through said spraying means so as to subject the edge of the same to the spraying operation, a safety lever located in the region of the machine where the books are introduced by the attendant, and readily accessible to the attendant at all times, means of operative connection between said safety lever and said motive means for interrupting the operation thereof, and means actuated by the moveamaze where the books are introduced into the machine for engaging the rear of the last book introduced thereinto for holding the books in upright position, and means actuated by the movement of the books to operative position, with respect to said spraying means, for controlling the operation of said spraying means.

6. In a book-spraying machine, the combination of a spraying means, a reciprocating motor for advancing the books in close side-by-side engagement with each other along a straight-line path through said spraying means so as to subject the edge of the same to the spraying operation, means actuated by the movement of the books to operative position, with respect to said spraying means, for controlling the operation of said spraying means, means for discontinuing the operation of said motor, and means actuated by the accumulation of the books beyond said spraying means for automatically effecting operation of said m'otor-discontinuing means.

'7. In a spraying apparatus, the combination of a spraying means, means leading to and beyond the region of said spraying means for guiding engagement with the articles along one edge and 4 10 at another point thereof, means in the region of said spraying means for guiding engagement with only the one edge of the articles, and means for feeding the articles successively and progressively upon edge and in close side-by-side contact with each other so as to expose the edge thereof unobstructedly to said spraying means.

8. In a book-spraying machine, the combination of a spraying means, means for feeding the books with their back edges up and in close sideby-side engagement with each other to, through and beyond the region of said spraying means, and means beyond the region of said spraying means for engaging only the corner of the back edge of the books for guiding the same.

9. In a book-spraying machine, the combination of a spraying means, means for feeding the books with their back edges down and in close side-by-side engagement with each other to, through and beyond the region of said spraying means, and means beyond the region of said spraying means for engaging only the corner of the back edge of the books for guiding the same.

HERMAN S. CAHEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,002,507 Porter May 28, 1935 2,114,723 Paasche Apr. 19, 1938 2,357,786 Wells Sept. 5, 1944 

